326 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



fishing, yet it is advisable to have a longer and lighter weapon. 

 One of East India cane, 20 feet and more in length, is generally 

 used for the purpose. Quick striking is necessary in roach fishing, 

 and for this purpose it is necessary to have the line above the float 

 as short and " taut " as possible, hence the necessity of a long rod 

 to reach over the weeds and fish long swims. Fine tackle is very 

 requisite ; indeed, many roach fishers use single hair for their foot- 

 links, but fine-drawn gut is perhaps as invisible, and certainly 

 stronger. The hooks should be Nos. 9, 10, or n ; the float a fine 

 porcupine quill, or where the fish are shy, a half-inch of quill 

 plugged up at both ends, or even a bit of straw. Roach are gre- 

 garious, and ground-baiting a day before fishing is desirable in 

 order to secure the shoal being where you want them to be. Bran 

 mixed with carrion gentles or bread, meal or boiled rice, or a judi- 

 cious mixture made into balls, and if there is a stream, weighted 

 with small stones or clay, and thrown in so as to find the bottom at 

 the proper place, should be used as ground-bait. When you are 

 fishing, small balls of soaked bread or of your ground-bait should 

 be thrown in at not too frequent intervals, to keep the fish together. 

 In some places, however, where the space is confined, such as by 

 a lock-gate in a small river or canal, the roach must be there within 

 reach, and ground-bait is unnecessary. 



The best general hook bait for a roach is a gentle, of which two 

 or three may be put on the hook ; the addition of the red chrysalis 

 of the gentle on the point of the hook is an inducement when the 

 fish are biting shyly. A small red worm is excellent for the large 

 roach in the winter. Paste is a universal bait, and though many 

 flavour it with honey, or other things sweet or tasty, or colour it 

 with vermilion, plain white paste, made of the crumb of a new 

 loaf or flour and water, kneaded into consistency with dean hands, 

 is best. A little cotton-wool mixed up with it will make it keep 

 longer on the hook : a piece about the size of a pea should be 

 pressed on to the hook. An acquaintance of mine says that the 

 best paste is made of Huntley and Palmer's biscuits. Pearl barley 

 boiled for two hours, until it has swelled its utmost and is soft, is 





